by A video released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) showing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid, featuring the theme song from the anime “Pokémon,” has gone viral, sparking outrage. In response, The Pokémon Company issued an unusual statement, strongly denying any involvement in the video.
This week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security posted a clip on social media featuring footage from the early Pokémon anime series and card-like images of the arrested individuals, showing an arrest made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The video, featuring the theme song “Get It!”, quickly went viral and drew widespread criticism. In a statement, The Pokémon Company stated, “We are aware that the Department of Homeland Security has posted a video containing imagery and language associated with our brand. We have no involvement in the production or distribution of this content, nor have we granted permission for the use of our intellectual property.”
It has not yet been announced whether legal action will be pursued. In an interview with IGN, one of the world’s most prominent entertainment news outlets, Doug McGowan, former Chief Legal Officer of The Pokémon Company, stated, “The Pokémon Company has a long history of avoiding controversy in the US market, so it’s likely they’ll quietly get away with it.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly faced criticism for using the works of well-known artists without permission. Last August, Jay-Z’s song “Public Service Announcement” was used without consent in a video for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement recruitment campaign, which has since been removed following a copyright infringement claim.
Also this week, comedian Theo Vong protested the unauthorized use of his voice, writing to X, “I didn’t authorize this. You know my address, so send me a check and then delete it. Don’t get me involved in a ‘fun deportation video.'” His clip has since been removed, but the video using Pokémon music remains live as of the time of writing.
